The Polyvagal Theory

Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-Regulation

By: Stephen W. Porges

Narrated by: Joe Hempel

A collection of groundbreaking research by a leading figure in neuroscience.

This book compiles, for the first time, Stephen W. Porges's decades of research. A leading expert in developmental psychophysiology and developmental behavioral neuroscience, Porges is the mind behind the groundbreaking Polyvagal Theory, which has startling implications for the treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma, and autism.

Adopted by clinicians around the world, the Polyvagal Theory has provided exciting new insights into the way our autonomic nervous system unconsciously mediates social engagement, trust, and intimacy.

©2011 Stephen W. Porges (P)2020 Tantor

Awesome, detailed, research backed information. Deep dive into changes that have occurred between species through evolution.

I purchased hardcover to review in addition, to highlight details, certain details about the nervous system and branches of the vagus nerve. Way too much for me to remember from listening once. Hardcover book will allow me to highlight the applicable parts i want to understand. To differentiate connections between brain, nodes, branches and to grasp a useful understanding of the quite detailed information contained in this book.

Informative

Great overall understanding of polyvagal theory, and it’s applications. Can get repetitive at times, such as explaining differences between mammalian and reptilian nervous systems.

If only the narration were better...

I can't finish this book. I love Stephen Porges' work and highly respect the changes he's making in the field. He's actually really fun to listen to, but he did not narrate this and the narration has turned me off from being able to finish this.

super dense

incomprehensible unless you were already a scientist. normal smart ppl wont follow. i studied psych... had to shut off.

Too much jargon

It’s a shame this is so poorly written. The theory though legitimate is difficult to follow because there is too much unnecessary jargon and synonyms. I ve tried more than once to read this book.

Spewing Regurgitated Evolutionary Nonsense instead of Science

I thought this book would tell me more about the functioning of the Vegus system. Instead, it’s a long fantasy tale, woven through the editorializing lens of “scientists” repeating assumptions other so-called scientific “authorities” have spouted generations before. Next time, please stick to the facts, not a fictionalized historic record of mankind that continues to contradict itself throughout explanation. I was looking for someone to tell me what I need to know, not to tell me what to believe. I have enough logical and deductive reasoning to do that for myself. Evidently, unlike the author.

Pseudoscientific blathering

i did some digging into this theory in databases of scholarly and peer-reviewed scientific journals, and the only person doing any research about this is the author-- so of course all his research backs it up. But he sells training to license people to use these ideas in therapy, so he has a clear conflict of interest.

Take everything with a whopping wheelbarrow full of salt.

Might be very good, but hard for an outsider

Might be very good, but as being outside of the psychology field I found it too hard to follow and get. I need a book that explains the same concepts in a more approachable way. Thanks anyway to the surely very wise author.

Unable to finish- poorly written

I simply couldn’t finish this book- it is poorly written. And I have never not finished a book- Im pretty motivated to finish what I start. Self important, insufferable tone, that didn’t help either. I kept thinking- its like hearing someone with a big ego who just likes to talk to hear the sound of his voice. Too bad- I was very interested in the topic.